NIBONG TEBAL: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) views the results of the Sungai Bakap state by-election tonight as a signal for self-reflection to win the people's trust.
Party vice-chairman Nurul Izzah Anwar said despite the loss, the party will continue to strive for changes to ensure a better future for Penang and Malaysia.
"We accept this defeat with full responsibility, seeing it as a signal to continue self-reflection and a reminder that we cannot become complacent and must continue working to win the people's trust.
"We embrace this reality as an ongoing challenge in the diary of our struggle," she told reporters after meeting with the Unity team at its main operations room here tonight (July 6).
Also present were Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and PH election director for the Sungai Bakap polls, Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, and the PH candidate Dr Joohari Ariffin.
In the by-election, Perikatan Nasional (PN) retained its hold on Sungai Bakap after its candidate, Abidin Ismail, defeated Joohari with a majority of 4,267 votes.
The Sungai Bakap by-election was held following the death of the incumbent, Nor Zamri Latiff, who was also Nibong Tebal PAS division chief, on May 24 due to stomach inflammation.
Nurul Izzah, who is also Penang PKR Leadership Council chairman, expressed her appreciation and gratitude to the voters who supported the party.
"Not forgetting the PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) teams who tirelessly assisted throughout the campaign period," she said.
While respecting the choice of the Sungai Bakap voters, Nurul Izzah said PKR is disheartened by the narrow racial attacks and malicious slander employed by the opposition to influence sentiments in the by-election.
"Regardless, we must strive to bring back debates, information sessions and efforts focused on core issues such as public welfare, children's education and infrastructure development and to ensure balanced development between mainland Penang and the island," she said. — BERNAMA
TAGS: by-election, Sungai Bakap, Nurul Izzah Anwar, Joohari Ariffin, PH, PKR, loss, self-reflection